Toothbrush with integral dentifrice dispenser



SCPL 10, 1968 A. M. vANDERGRlr-T 3,400,996

TOOTHBRUSH WITH INTEGRAL DENTIFRICE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 1'5, 1966United States Patent -O 3,400,996 TOOTHBRUSH WITH INTEGRAL DENTIFRICEDISPENSER Alice M. Vandergrift, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor of onethirdinterest each to Edward W. Macrum, Beaver Falls, Pa., and Kenneth W.Coates, Jr., Madison, Ind.l

Filed Nov. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 594,610 Claims. (Cl. 401-184) Thisinvention relates to toothbrushes of the type which are provided withmeans for lstoring dentifrice and dispensing the stored dentrice ontothe toothbrush when the need therefor arises.

In the past there have been numerous proposals for accomplishing theforegoing, but all of those of which I am aware possess undesirablecharacteristics of one kind or another; among which are prohibitive costof manufacture, ineifectiveness in operation, lack `of durability,unattractiveness in appearance, etc.

It is among the objects of the present invention to pro- Vide animproved toothbrush with integral dentifrice dispenser which overcomesall the disadvantages and objections described, and which provides quickand easy operation without wastefulness of the dentifrice.

Another object is the provision of a device which possesses thedesirable features referred to, and which is operable with dentrice inthe form of a cartridge which may be quickly and easily replaced whennecessary.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become more fullyunderstood from the following description and annexed drawing, whereinlike reference characters refer to like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of a deviceembodying the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1and illustrating more clearly the components of the mid-portion of thedevice; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating in greater detailthe dispensing nozzle through which the dentifrice is supplied to thetoothbrush.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 generallydesignated the handle of the device, the same comprising a base member 3which forms the forward end of the handle, the same having a relativelyshort cylindrical portion of substantial diameter, and a necked-downportion 4 which terminates in a forward flattened member 5 withright-angularly extending toothbrush tufts or bristles 6.

The base member 3 is provided vat its rearward end with an annularabutment 8 which connects at its inner edge with a rearwardly extendingfrusto-conical boss or nipple 10.

The frustro-conical boss or nipple 10, foreshortened cylindrical member3, and necked-down portion 4 are provided with a common cent-ral bore,as shown at 12.

Rearwardly of the base member 3 is a cylindrical sleeve 14 of the sameoutside diameter, the forward end of said cylindrical sleeve forming anannular abutment 15 which is of lesser width than the aforementionedannular abutment 10- The rearward end of the cylindrical sleeve 14 isprovided, adjacent its outer surface, with a narrow annular abutment 16and a more inwardly disposed stepped recess 18, the inner face of whichis wider than the narrow annular abutment 16 and terminates at the innerwall of the cylindrical sleeve.

Rearwardly of the cylindrical sleeve 14 is a cup 20 having a thickenedand centrally apertured bottom wall 21, the side-wall 32 of the cupbeing annular, of lesser outside and inside diameter than thecylindrical sleeve 14 and terminating at its forward end in 'an annularabutment 24.

3,400,996 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 JCC The inner wall of the cup 20connects with the inner surface of the thickened and centrally aperturedbottom wall 21 through a stepped recess 25.

Disposed in the cup 20 is a ferrule 26 having an an.- nular abutment 28which is adapted for alignment with the annular abutment 24 at theforward end of the cup 20, and with it contact the inner face of thestepped recess 18 of the cylindrical sleeve 14.

The ferrule 26 is provided with a frustro-conical extension or nipple 30which projects from the inner edge of theannular abutment 24.

The rearward end of the ferrule 26 forms yan annular abutment 32 ofsubstantially the same width as the for- Ward portion of the steppedrecess 25 on the interior of the cup 20. I

A short tube 34 is disposed in the central aperture in the thickenedbottom wall 21 of the cup 20 projecting both forwardly and rearwardlytherefrom; and the wall of the rearward end of said tube is bevelled, asshown at 36 to form a sharp piercing instrumentality.

A flexible plastic intake check valve 40` is positioned to cover theforward end of the tube 34 and is held in such position by having aportion. of its periphery clamped between the rearward end of theferrule 26 and the forward portion of the stepped recess 25 on theinterior of the cup 20.

A tubular housing 42 of the same outside diameter is positionedrearwardly of the cylindrical sleeve 14 with its forward end in contactwith the narrow annular 1abut ment 16 of the latter; and the diameter ofthe inner wall of the forward end of this tubular housing is such as toenable it to snugly lit over the periphery -of the cup 20.

An annular bead-and-recess snaptit arrangement or other suitablefastening means may be employed to hold the tubular housing 42 in theaforementioned position,

The interior of the tubular housing 42 holds puncturable cartridge 44containing the dentifrice which may be iu paste, liquid or powder form;and 'the rear end of the tubular housing 42 is closed except for an airhole 46 for preventing air lock.

As will be observed the movement of the tubular housing 42 intooperative position, with an interiorly disposed dentifrice cartridge 44of proper shape and size will result in the puncturing of the forwardend of the cartridge by the bevelled end wall 36 ofthe tube 34.

A flexible plastic tube 48 is disposed over and extends between therearwardly extending frusto-conical nipple 10 on the base member 3 andthe ,forwardly extending frustoconical nipple 30 on the ferrule 26.

Intermediate its ends the wall of the cylindrical sleeve 14 is providedwith an aperture 50 which receives a pushbottom 52 having a projectingouter end 53 and an enlarged inner end 54 which is adapted to contactand compress the flexible plastic tube 48.

Referring to the forward end of the device of the invention, the commoncentral bore or conduit 12 is of progres sively decreasing diameter andat its forward end communicates with a right-angularly extending passage56. This passage 56 communicates with an enlarged circular recess 57 onthe face of the forward llattened member 5 which carries the toothbrushtufts or bristles; preferably adjacent the center of said face andwherefrom the said tufts or bristles have been removed.

Within this enlarged circular recess 57 there is disposed an insert 58of exible plastic material capable of forcing a discharge nozzle andserving as a check valve, the said insert being provided with asuitable.` centrally disposed dispensing orifice such as cross-wiseslots 60.

From the foregoing construction and arrangement, it will be perceivedthat the push button 52 and flexible plastic tube 48 serve as a veryeffective pump to draw the dentrice past the flexible plastic intakecheck valve 40 and 400,996 i; I 'j 3 forceV it through vthe dispensingorifice 60 in the exible plastic insert 58 in the recess 57 and onto theadjacent tufts or bristles 6.

It will also be noted that if desired all of the parts of the device mayconveniently be formed of inexpensive plastic material.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodimentsof thepresent invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in theart that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since variousmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toothbrush with means for supplying dentifrice thereto comprising,in combination, a base member having a necked-down portion and a attenedbristle-carrying areaextending ifrom one end thereof; a sleeve connectedat one end to the opposite end of said base member; a ferrule connectedto the opposite end of said sleeve; a dentifrice container communicatingwith said ferrule; an intake check valve carried by said ferrule; saidbase member and its necked-down portion and attened bristle-carryingarea having a common bore; the bore of said sleeve being substantiallylarger than said aforementioned common bore;

a flexible tube disposed in said sleeve and communicating with saidaforementioned bore and with the interior of said ferrule; said ferrulebeing mounted in a cup having a rearwardly disposed centrally aperturedbottom, a short tube disposed in the central aperture in the bottom ofsaid cup and projecting forwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto;said intake check valve being operable to close the forward end of saidshort tube; the rearward end of said shortjtube being sharpened for acartridge-piercing means; means extending through the wall o-f saidsleeve for en- 'abling the manual compression of-at least-a portion ofsaid flexible tube; the attened bristle-carrying area of said basemember having a recess on its outer face and a passage providingcommunication between s aid recess and said cornmon bore; and adischarge Acheck valve in said recess; whereby the manual compression ofthe dentifrice container will draw dentifricethrough said intake checkvalve and pump the same through s aid common bore and onto the bristlecarrying area of said base member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the dentifrice in said dentifricecontainer isin cartridge form.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein both said intake check valve andsaid discharge check val-ve are composed of flexible material.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein nipples for receiving the ends ofsaid exible tube are carried by the rearward end of said base member andthe forward end of said ferrule.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ferrule is mounted in a cuphaving arearwardly disposed centrallyapertured bottom; the rearward endof the wall of said ferrule having a recess, the forward end of said cupbeing seated in said recess; the forward end of said dentifricecontainer being removably tted over the adjacent end of said cup.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,513 8/1952 Lawson 401- -l582,772,430 12/1956 Moritt 401-151 2,785,425 3/1957 Lenk 401-146 LOUIS G.MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Examiner.

1. A TOOTHBRUSH WITH MEANS FOR SUPPLYING DENTIFRICE THERETO COMPRISING,IN COMBINATION, A BASE MEMBER HAVING A NECKED-DOWN PORTION AND AFLATTENED BRISTLE-CARRYING AREA EXTENDING FROM ONE END THEREOF; A SLEEVECONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BASE MEMBER; A FERRULECONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SLEEVE; A DENTIFRICE CONTAINERCOMMUNICATING WITH SAID FERRULE; AN INTAKE CHECK VALVE CARRIED BY SAIDFERRULE; SAID BASE MEMBER AND ITS NECKED-DOWN PORTION AND FLATTENEDBRISTLE-CARRYING AREA HAVING A COMMON BORE; THE BORE OF SAID SLEEVEBEING SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER THAN SAID AFOREMENTIONED COMMON BORE; AFLEXIBLE TUBE DISPOSED IN SAID SLEEVE AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAIDAFOREMENTIONED BORE AND WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID FERRULE; SAID FERRULEBEING MOUNTED IN A CUP HAVING A REARWARDLY DISPOSED CENTRALLY APERTUREDBOTTOM, A SHORT TUBE DISPOSED IN THE CENTRAL APERTURE IN THE BOTTOM OFSAID CUP AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY WITH RESPECT THERETO;SAID INTAKE CHECK VALVE BEING OPERABLE TO CLOSE THE FORWARD END OF SAIDSHORT TUBE; THE REARWARD END OF SAID SHORT TUBE BEING SHARPENED FOR ACARTRIDGE-PIERCING MEANS; MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF SAIDSLEEVE FOR ENABLING THE MANUAL COMPRESSION OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAIDFLEXIBLE TUBE; THE FLATTENED BRISTLE-CARRYING AREA OF SAID BASE MEMBERHAVING A RECESS ON ITS OUTER FACE AND A PASSAGE PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONBETWEEN SAID RECESS AND SAID COMMON BORE; AND A DISCHARGE CHECK VALVE INSAID RECESS; WHEREBY THE MANUAL COMPRESSION OF THE DENTIFRICE CONTAINERWILL DRAW DENTIFRICE THROUGH SAID INTAKE CHECK VALVE AND PUMP THE SAMETHROUGH SAID COMMON BORE AND ONTO THE BRISTLE CARRYING AREA OF SAID BASEMEMBER.